The Economics Association of Zambia has opened talks with its Ugandan counterpart on a formal partnership. On the table: joint economic outlook reports, a continental summit and a shadow monetary policy committee that would publish an independent view on interest rates.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The EAZ National Executive Committee, led by President Dr Edna Litana, met a six-member delegation from the Applied Economics Association of Uganda (AEAU) in a virtual meeting on Monday, 12 October 2026.
- The talks covered six areas of cooperation, including joint Zambia and Uganda economic outlook reports and a shadow monetary policy committee.
- Both sides explored a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise the partnership. No signing date has been announced.
- The Uganda talks take the new NEC’s partnership drive beyond Zambia, after courtesy calls on the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Zambia.
The Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) is negotiating a partnership with the Applied Economics Association of Uganda (AEAU) that could see the two professional bodies publish joint economic outlook reports and run a shadow monetary policy committee. The two sides met virtually on Monday, 12 October, according to a statement from the EAZ Secretariat.
EAZ President Dr Edna Litana led the Zambian side, joined by members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Secretariat staff. The Ugandan delegation was led by Mr Emmanuel Okware and included Mr Patrick Kumakech, Mr Dauda Kimanayi, Ms Emily Akullu Omacara, Dr Nicholas Mukisa and Dr Bernard Wabukala.
The meeting also explored a proposed MoU to set the terms of cooperation. The Secretariat’s statement gives no timeline for signing it.
What did EAZ and the Ugandan economists discuss?
The EAZ statement lists six areas of possible collaboration.
| Area | What it would involve |
|---|---|
| Continental Economic Summit | A meeting point for economists, policymakers, researchers and private sector leaders from across Africa to discuss economic transformation. |
| Joint Zambia and Uganda Economic Outlook Reports | Shared analysis of macroeconomic developments, fiscal and monetary policy, investment and regional trends. |
| Collaborative Research and Policy Dialogue | Joint research projects, webinars, policy roundtables and knowledge exchange. |
| Economists Research Network | A network linking economists, academics and practitioners in both countries for joint research. |
| Professional Development and Young Economists | Mentorship, capacity building, academic exchanges and professional networking. |
| Shadow Monetary Policy Committee | Independent economic analysis of monetary policy and better public understanding of it. |
What is a shadow monetary policy committee?
Of the six proposals, this is the one most likely to be noticed outside the profession. In Zambia, the Bank of Zambia’s Monetary Policy Committee sets the policy rate, which shapes what commercial banks charge on loans. We have explained how that rate reaches your loan repayments here.
A shadow committee is a panel of independent economists who review the same data as the central bank and publish their own recommendation on where the rate should be. The best-known example is in the United Kingdom, where a Shadow Monetary Policy Committee, now hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs, has published its own rate votes alongside the Bank of England’s since 1997.
For a borrower or a business owner, the value is a second, published view to read each Bank of Zambia decision against. A committee drawn from two countries could also compare how Lusaka and Kampala respond to the same global pressures, such as oil prices or a stronger US dollar. How much weight it carries will depend on who sits on it and how reliably it publishes, and the EAZ statement does not yet say.
Why compare Zambia and Uganda?
The two economies have more in common than their distance suggests. Both are landlocked, both are members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and both depend heavily on commodity exports. Zambia earns most of its foreign exchange from copper. Uganda’s export earnings lean on gold and coffee.
They also sit in different regional blocs. Zambia belongs to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), while Uganda is part of the East African Community (EAC). A joint outlook report written by economists on both sides would give investors and policymakers a single reference point across that divide, something neither association currently produces alone.
What it means for EAZ members
For the association’s members, the practical gains sit in the research network and the professional development strand. Mentorship, academic exchanges and joint research projects would give Zambian economists, particularly younger ones, contacts and publishing opportunities outside the country.
The Secretariat says the engagement should expand professional opportunities for members and extend the association’s influence beyond Zambia.
Part of a wider push by the new NEC
Dr Litana’s executive has been building partnerships since its election in Livingstone. It has sought a formal partnership with the Ministry of Finance, paid a courtesy call on the Bank of Zambia and approached FNB Zambia for support. Last week it backed Zambia’s new IMF staff-level agreement.
The Uganda talks are the first of these to reach outside the country. The Secretariat frames them as part of the NEC’s EAZ Vision 2028 Agenda, which it says is focused on partnerships that deliver value to members and strengthen the contribution of economists to national and regional development.
What happens next
EAZ says it will share updates as the proposed areas of collaboration progress. Three things are worth watching: whether the MoU is signed and when, the date and scope of the first joint outlook report, and who is appointed to the shadow monetary policy committee.
Related: EAZ Backs US$1.5 Billion IMF Deal, Wants Treasury to Leave Room for Private Borrowers.
Related: EAZ Seeks Formal Partnership With Finance Ministry as Musokotwane Calls for Practical Policy Ideas.
Related: Dr Edna Kabala Litana elected EAZ President after tight Livingstone vote.
Related: Repositioning Zambia in the Global Economy: The Strategic Role of Economic Diplomacy.
Hub: Economic Diplomacy.
Student opportunities: EAZ Student Spotlight: eligibility and how to submit a campus achievement.
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